Fresh off a major political win in Sarasota County, School Board Member Bridget Ziegler took a job as director of School Board Programs for the Leadership Institute. The organization has trained conservative political candidates nationwide, and boasts providing support for some 250,000 activists, leaders and students since its founding in 1979.

“Leadership Institute has trained hundreds of conservatives across the country online and in person through its school board programs; this includes 260 graduates from LI’s four in-person School Board Activism Workshops in Florida alone,” said Morton Blackwell, president and founder of the Leadership Institute. “With Bridget spearheading a big wave of more LI school board training across the United States, I look forward to seeing this trend continue throughout the country as parents take back their schools."

The position will not require a move for Ziegler, and she will retain her position on the School Board, where she won election to a third full term on Aug. 23. She said she will lead a national team based out of Sarasota. “The demand will be no different than when I held a full time executive position in the insurance industry,” she said. 

The hire comes after Ziegler established herself as a fixture on conservative cable news on political issues surrounding education, such as critical race theory. In Florida, she helped found the state chapter of Moms For Liberty, and was among a slate of candidates Gov. Ron DeSantis endorsed in a statewide push to elect more conservatives and proponents of “parents’ rights” on school boards.

Notably, Ziegler for years worked to establish an alternative to the Florida School Boards Association, and previously helped found the now-defunct Florida Coalition of School Board Members. The Leadership Institute holds a similar mission of offering training and support for conservatives who want to serve on school boards.

Ziegler dug into that topic in a Twitter thread announcing her hire.

“Too often - School Board Members run and get elected as Conservatives, but once they are in office, the only training available to them is generated from left-leaning activist organizations who label concerned parents as ‘Domestic Terrorists,’” Ziegler said. “That influence then leads to liberal group-think and even more dangerous, liberal group-policy (led by radical left special interest groups), which quickly spreads from one school district to all school districts. This ends now.” 

As its longtime chief financial officer embarks on his retirement, All Faiths Food Bank has hired Timothy Taylor as its new CFO. Taylor brings extensive professional experience in finance, logistics, operations, and business analytics to his role with the area’s only food bank and largest hunger relief organization. In this position, Taylor will be responsible for providing leadership for the financial reporting and operations of the organization, including managing all day-to-day financial and accounting functions, recording, and reporting for the organization, in accordance with GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) and other regulatory requirements. He will work collaboratively with department leaders to create budgets and department reports, provide strategic direction, and support the mission of All Faiths. Taylor will also be responsible for the analysis of financial trends as well as managing IT.

“I’m very excited to be joining such a great organization and its outstanding senior leadership team," Taylor said. "I am looking forward to working with all of the work areas at AFFB and with our neighbors in the community, to optimize benefit delivery through efficient financial stewardship of contributions from our donor partners.”

Prior to coming to All Faiths Food Bank, Taylor served the Director of Finance, HR & IT for Sun Bulb Company – Better-Gro (Arcadia, Fla.), CFO/COO of Premier Beauty Supply, Inc. (Lincolnshire, Ill.), Controller for Wurth Baer Supply Company (Vernon Hills, Ill.) and, most recently, as the Senior Director of Finance & HR for the Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity. Taylor is a member of the Institute of Managerial Accountants and the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks in Punta Gorda, and has served as a volunteer for the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Northern Illinois University and his Masters of Science in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. 

SVN Commercial Advisory Group has added Jordan Murga to the growing office, and retail and industrial investment sales team for the Sarasota and Tampa Bay-based brokerage firm. Murga joins other advisors across the state and country who have embraced the SVN difference of open collaboration among all brokers. Prior to joining SVN Commercial Advisory Group, Murga worked for a family-owned development and construction company. A graduate of the University of Central Florida, Murga specialized in Communications and Real Estate. While attending UCF, he was a team captain for the UCF Men's Club Lacrosse Team. Jordan Murga originally from Vacaville, California, now resides in Sarasota, Florida. 

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Southwest Waste Services recently celebrated the grand opening of their newest facility in Sarasota located on 3100 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34234.  Southwest Waste Services offers waste hauling, disposal, construction and demolition debris recycling services to construction partners, commercial businesses, and residents. Southwest Waste serves customers from Marco Island to Bradenton. 

Manatee County Economic Development is working with business owners and operators in flood-prone areas to help protect their properties. Staff is reaching out to companies in the county’s Southwest District that have experienced flooding issues in the past to help their personnel proactively prepare for future high-water events… with the offer of free sandbags. Those interested will be able to pick up free sandbags at three self-serve locations beginning next Wednesday, September 14, through Friday, September 23:

Fraternal Order of Eagles, 5831 15th Street East, Bradenton 34203
Desoto Square Mall, 303 301 Blvd. W., Bradenton 34205
Stormwater Facility, 5311 39th Street E, Bradenton 34208

There is a limit of 10 bags per business. Participants can register online or call 941-742-5655 for more information. 

Art Center Sarasota’s 2022-23 exhibition season considers the big picture and the small picture as well. Some of the featured artists explore global issues and seismic shifts in history. Others open the viewer’s eye to the triumphs and struggles of unique individuals. In the season ahead, Art Center Sarasota celebrates their full spectrum of artistic vision. These diverse offerings include both one-person exhibits devoted to the deeply personal expressions of individual artists and group shows curated by jurors of stature in the regional art landscape. The 2022-2023 season features exciting work that spans the range of artistic mediums—from abstract ceramic sculpture to documentary photography. According to Kinsey Robb, Art Center Sarasota’s executive director, this tapestry of artistic expression reflects ACS’s greater mission. “We’re a community arts center,” she says. “The community we serve is amazingly diverse. We honor that diversity with our selection of art and artists.” Robb adds that she’s excited to present a series of artist talks this season—a program that “provides audiences the ability to dive deeper into the minds of our artists in an intimate and friendly setting.” 

The Venice Symphony is pleased to announce that Brad Clark has joined the organization as Development Manager. Clark is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay and brings to the Symphony experience working with non-profits and in event-planning with several high-profile organizations around the Country including MLB’s San Diego Padres. He most recently served as Director of the North Port, FL Club of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Clark also has extensive experience as a business owner and manager. As Development Manager, Clark will work with the Philanthropy and Events Team and with Venice Symphony patrons. “I am very excited to be working on our first social event of the season, to benefit our Youth Symphony,” said Clark. “I look forward to meeting many more patrons and members of our community at this fantastic event.” Christine Kasten, President and CEO of The Venice Symphony, said “Since joining us this summer Brad has already become a valued member of the Symphony, overseeing critical donor appeals, two distinct special events and working with the Chair Society and our volunteers, The Friends of The Symphony.” Added Clark, “The Venice Symphony has provided me with opportunities to utilize my experience in high-end event planning and design. I know that working together we will be able to bring some extraordinary events to this community. I am thrilled to help people celebrate life through The Symphony’s music and the sense of connection it brings to people of all ages.” 

LEADING FROM YOUTH | Outstanding young ladies and gentlemen show what it takes to be a leader.

Learn more about these rockstars through this link, on our social media, or in the September edition of SRQ Magazine!